Languages

Speeches

In today’s world the distribution of power is changing in a basic way. The center of global gravity is indeed moving away from the Atlantic—where it has been for the last 150 years—and tilting toward the Pacific.

South Asia has experienced a long period of robust economic growth and is also regarded as one of the fastest-growing economies. It has been forecast to have a steady economic growth of 7.5 percent in 2016 and 2017. However, this region is home to 40 percent of the world’s poor (people who live under $1.25 a day), more than 200 million live in slums and half a billion go without electricity.

Every generation has its challenges. These may not be the same as those of former generations, though some have a tendency to turn up again every few years. In Germany, where I come from, the global situation has come down rather vehemently on political and civil authorities, in the last months, exhibiting in particular the faces of hundreds of thousands of refugees.

The cry of "Never Again" has failed in Bosnia, as you all know. Once again an intolerable affront to the human conscience has occurred: genocide. I have lived it. And I have survived it in order to testify before you today that the law is not in the books; the law is in the heart, and the heart is in the soul, and the soul is in the trust, and the trust is in God...

It's significant that the exchange of diverse opinions among religious leaders regarding peace and development occurred in the final session, after several issues had been considered from various angles by distinguished political leaders. [...] In my opinion, it's impossible to discover the best answer to the issues that are relevant to peace and development without considering the issue of the inner being.

Perhaps we all can agree that no religion espouses the cause of war. There is no single religion, among the main religions of the world that urges its followers to embark upon a course of war, for whatever reason. On the contrary, all religions aim at bringing about peace and harmony, and safety and security for the life and property of all.

I think the first challenge is a moral challenge, or ethical challenge. How is it that in the 21st century a continent which had been putting itself at the center of world civilization, and which has proclaimed the universality of its values – universality means the world – how come this continent has become a place where the notion of being foreigner, the notion or concept of immigration, is becoming a bad word in some way? And that all people coming from outside Europe are feeling rejected. What is the deeper meaning of this contradiction?

We in this part of this old continent should find our own way to get out from the trap in which we are at the moment. No longer can old European, or Japanese or American models be the guide; we have to emulate now under different conditions those successful models from the past.

I will deliver a few points and thoughts regarding one of the most important issues in Europe today, and that’s the issue of the huge wave of migrants coming from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and many other countries, something that has never happened on this scale in the last 50 years or more.

Indeed, if the whole world were to embrace the vision of the late Reverend Moon and Mrs. Moon, promoting reconciliation, coexistence and cooperation, the world certainly would be a better and a more peaceful world. And I do congratulate you, Dr. Moon and members of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee, for inaugurating an initiative of immense international significance.

I feel it an honor and privilege to be selected for the first Sunhak Peace Prize. I am glad that the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee recognizes the importance of food security, environmental integrity and overall socioeconomic development as essential prerequisites for a peaceful society.

Let me humbly and briefly mention my efforts in the last five decades, looking at how fish farming or aquaculture—through making science relevant to the needs of the farming community in developing countries, including war-torn countries, such as Laos, and least developed countries, such as Bangladesh—can bring changes to the lives and livelihoods of the rural poor by providing adequate food and nutrition security.

About UPF

Tools

Sign Up For Our Newsletter:

Email Address:*

Our Mailing Lists:*

Universal Peace Federation (http://www.upf.org)

Religious Youth Service

UPF United Nations

FOLLOW US

We are an international and interreligious network of individuals and organizations, including representatives from religion, government, civil society and the private sector dedicated to achieving world peace. UPF supports the work of the United Nations, particularly in the areas of interfaith peacebuilding, peace education, and the strengthening of marriage and family.

Universal Peace Federation is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations We support and promote the work of the United Nations and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals